Display rack



J. l. BLUM DISPLAY RACK Aug. 26', 194] Filed oct. `11, 193s fzzjezof LEC/Effi@ M @if Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNiTED sTATEs'-^'PATENT OFFICE 2,253,841 DISPLAY RACK Jack I. Blum, Mount Carmel, Pa. Application October 11, 1939, Serial No. 298,871 7 Claims. V,(Ql. 211-89) This invention relates to display racks by means of which Various articles of merchandise may be displayed to intending purchasers.

The principal object of thepresent invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient rack or holder for displaying articles, such as neckties or the like, to intending purchasers, which device is so constructed and arranged that one or more of the articles may be quickly and easily removed from the holder without disturbing the orderly arrangement of the others.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display rack or holder provided with means whereby an article may be inserted quickly and expeditiously, to replace one which was previously removed. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a display rack or holder which is so constructed and arranged that the same may be removed from its support for a closer examination and comparison of a group of articles heldtherein, or for the replacement of an article therein.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood vfrom the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a necktie rack or holder embodying the main features of the pres-v ent invention, the bar. on which the same is l mounted being shown in section;

. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the device in inoperative condition, that is, with the articles to be displayed removed therefrom;v

Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the same in the condition in which a pair of the clamping plates.' employed in the device, are separated to facilitate the insertion therebetween of one of the articles to be supported'by the rack;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on theline 5--5 of Fig. 2; v

' Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of the device used for separating the clamping plates as shown in Fig. 3. l

It will, of course, be understood'that thedescription and drawing herein' are illustrative merely and that various changes vand-modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the "inven tion.

Referring to the drawing, I0 isa supporting bar or rod upon which the article holderV of the rod or bar I0 may be supported in any desired manner", and at any preferred place, or the same may be a component part of a pedestal structure, not shown, for counter display. It should, how- 1 ever, be understood that a plurality of the holders of the present invention will ordinarily be mounted on such a bar, however said bar may be supported.

The device of the present invention is provided with a suitable frame having side plates II with a .cross plate I2 at the front extending between said'side plates II. The frame may also be provided at the rear with a cross plate I3 to which are attached the downwardly extending legs I4 of the attaching member which engages the supporting rod or bar I0. The attaching member also has a rear plate I5 which is provided with an upward extension I6 bent over at the top as at I'I to provide means for manually gripping the holder when the sameis to be removed from the supporting rod or bar I0. The rear plate I5 of the attaching device is also constructed to provide a tongue IB, having a. portion I9 which extends unc ler the lower edge of the rod or bar, and thence extends downwardly as at 2i), the arrangement being such that when the bent-over top portion I'I` is gripped by the thumb and first finger of the operators hand, one of the other lingers may be used to retract the spring tongue I8 sufliciently to permit the holder to be raised and removed from the rod or bar I0.

Disposed between the side plates II of the frame isa pair of guide bars 2| which extend forwardly from the rear cross plate I3, being connected rat'their forward ends to a cross member 22 which in turn is secured to the front cross plate I2 of the frame.

' A plurality of clamping plates 23, suitably apertured as at 24 complemental to the cross section of the guide bars 2l, are mounted on said guide bars so as to be capable of back and forth motion under the tension of the coil springs 25 which are interposed between the ,rear cross plate I3 of the frame and the rearmost of the clamping plates 23. y

Each 'of the clamping plates 23 has each end curled around as at 26. The curled around portion 26 serves as a spacing means whereby the A clamping plates 23 are uniformly spaced when none of the articles are in place in the holder, and also'provides a proper shape for the engagement of the separating device to be presently explained. y

Forrthepurpose of separating the clamping present invention is adapted'to be mounted. The 55' plates 23, when it becomes necessary to insert,

between any pair of the same, an article to replace one which has been removed therefrom, there is provided a spreading device which includes side members 3Q normally disposed in proximity to the side members II of the frame, being held in such position by the clips 3| extending forwardly parallel to the side members i of the frame and at the rear thereof.

Each of the side members 30 of the spreading device is connected at its forward end'to a front cross member 32 which normally is disposed in proximity to the front cross member I2 of the frame, and held positioned with respect thereto by the clips 33 provided midway the extremities of said cross member 32 of the spreading device.

Each of the side members 3B of the spreading device carries a spreader member which has an inner portion 34 having a tapered-edge 35 adapted to be inserted between the curled around ends 26 of the clamping plates 23. The inner portion 34 of the spreader member is of such length .that when turned, as shown in Fig. 3, after being inserted between a pair of the plates 23, said plates will be separated an appreciable distance to permit the ready insertion therebetween of one of the articles to be mounted in the holder. Immediately adjacent the inner portion of the spreader member a rectangular portion 36 at right angles thereto Immediately adjacent the rectangular portion the spreader member is made cylindrical, as at 3l, of a diameter corresponding to longitudinal slots 38 which are provided in the side-members l i of the frame. Beyond the cylindrical portion 3i of the spreader member, the same is riveted to one of the side members 3u of the spreading device in such manner as to be fiXedly secured thereto and constrained to rotate therewith when the same is actuated as hereinafter set forth.

Also, it should be noted that the rectangular portion 36 of the spreader member is of a thickness corresponding to the slots 38 in the side members II of the frame, and further that the side members 3U of the spreading device are so joined to the front cross member 32 thereof that there is a normal tendency of the side members 3i) to spr-ing outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The operation of the device may now be explained,

Assuming the holder to be in the condition as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, that is, without any of the articles mounted in place therein,

and further assuming that the device is to be used for supporting and displaying four-in-hand neclrties of the ordinary type, it will not usually be necessary to utilize the spreading device for the initial insertion of the neckties therein, as the same may be successively inserted with the folded neckband portions placed between the successive clamping plates 23, said clamping plates being separated by hand for this purpose.

After the full number of neckties has been inserted between the clamping plates 23, the holder is then placed upon the supporting bar I3 as indicated in Fig. 1, and the portion I9 of the spring tongue i8, which extends under the lower edge of the supporting bar I0, will then hold the same in place and will normally prevent the holder from being removed from the supporting bar I 9, by reason of the customer not being familiar with .the mode of manipulation for the removal.

The neckties will then be held in an orderly arrangement for convenient examination by intending purchasers. When the intending purchaser has found one of the ties which he desires to purchase, or as to which he desires to make a closer examination, it is merely necessary, to effect the removal of the necktie from the holder, to pull the same downwardly, which will result in the desired necktie being removed from the holder without disturbing the orderly arrangement of the others.

If the customer should desire to make a closer examination and comparison of the entire group of neckties supported by a single holder, the attendant will grasp the upwardly extending and bent-over portion II of the fastening device by means of his thumb and first linger, and then with one of the other fingers of his hand will reract the lower part 23 of the spring tongue I8 suiciently to permit the entire holder to be removed from. the supporting bar I0.

When it is desired to insert a necktie between a pairof clamping plates 23, to replace one which has been removed therefrom, the spreading device is pulled forwardly until the spreader members .34 carried by the side members 39 of the spreading device are brought to the proper position between the curled-over portions 23 at the ends ofthe pair of clamping plates 23 which are to be separated.

The spreader members 34 are then pushed inwardly between the ends of the .pair of clamping plates 23 until the cylindrical portions 31 of the spreader members are positioned within the slots 38 in the side members I I of the frame, and at the same time, the inner portion 34 of each of the spreader members passes between the ends 26 of the pair of clamping plates 23. The spreadlng device may now be turned to the position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing and, by reason of the engagement of the ends 26 of the clamping plates 23 by the inner portions 34 of the spreader member, the desired pair of clamp-ing plates 23 will be separated, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, a sufficient distance to permit the folded neckband portion of the necktie to be easily and conveniently inserted therebetween and brought to the proper position to provide an orderly arrangement of the same with respect to the other neckties which are already in the holder.

After the folded neckband portion of the necktie has been inserted in the space Vbetween the separated clamping plates 23, the spreader device is then turned back to the horizontal position, whereupon the ends of the side members 30 will spring outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The spreader device may then be pushed backwardly to the rear and the rear ends of the side members 30 thereof brought into engagement with the clips 3I at the rear of the side members II of the frame, and the clips 33 of the front cross member 32 of the spreader device brought into engagement with the front cross member I2 of the frame. The holder with the neckties Vtherein may now be again replaced on the supporting bar I0.

I claim:

1,. In a display rack, an article holder including a frame, a plurality of article clamping plates slidably mounted therein, springs impelling' said plates to clamping positions, and members movably mounted in the frame and adapted to be brought to selective positions to be inserted `between any particular pair of plates for spreading said plates to increase the space between said pair of said plates whereby an article may be inserted in said space to replace one previously removed therefrom.

2. In a display rack, an article holder including a frame, a plurality of article clamping plates mounted therein, springs impelling said plates to clamping positions, and means for spreading said plates to increase the space between any adjacent pair of said plates whereby an article may be inserted in said space to replace one previously removed therefrom, said means comprising spreader members adapted to be first inserted between the respective ends of said pair of plates and then turned to separate the same.

3. In a display rack, an article holder including a frame, a plurality of article clamping plates mounted therein, springs impelling said plates to clamping positions, and means for spreading said plates to increase the space between any adjacent pair of said plates whereby an article may be inserted in said space to replace one previously removed therefrom, said means comprising spreader members adapted to be first inserted between the respective ends of said pair of plates and then turned to separate the same, and a part carrying said spreader members whereby they may be actuated in unison.

4. A display rack comprising a supporting member and an article holder removably mounted thereon, said article holder including a frame, a plurality of article clamping plates mounted therein, springs impelling said plates to clamping positions, and means for spreading said plates to increase the space between any adjacent pair of said plates whereby an article may be inserted in said space to replace one previously removed therefrom, said means comprising spreader members adapted to be vilrst inserted between the respective ends of said pair of plates and thenV Yturned to separate the same, and a part carrying said spreader members whereby they may be actuated in unison.

5. A display rack comprising a supporting bar and an article holder removably mounted thereon, said article holder having means for holding a plurality of articles therein whereby the same may be selectively removed therefrom, said holder also having a portion extending upwardly and bent over at the top for manual engagement, and means carried by said holder below said upwardly extending portion normally to restrain the removal of said holder from the bar, said restraining means being retractable by a nger of the same hand which engages the gripping extension to permit removal of the holder from the bar.

6. A display rack comprising a supporting bar and an article holder removably mounted thereon, said article holder having means for holding a plurality of articles therein whereby the same may be selectively removed therefrom, said holder also having a portion extending upwardly and bent over at the top for manual engagement, and a spring tongue carried by said holder below said upwardly extending portion having a portion engaging a portion of the bar to restrain the removal of said holder from the bar, said spring tongue being manually retractable whereby said holder and the articles held therein may be removed from the bar, and said spring tongue being so located relatively to the gripping extension that said spring tongue may be retracted by a finger of the same hand which engages the gripping extension.

7. In a display rack an article holder including a frame, a plurality of article clamping plates slidably mounted therein, springs interposed between said plates and a portion of the frame for impelling said plates'to clamping positions, and members movably mounted in the frame and adapted to be brought to selective positions to be inserted between any particular pair of said. plates for spreading said plates to increase the space between said pair of plates whereby an article may be inserted in said space to replace one previously removed therefrom,

JACK I. BLUM. 

